What is 5/11 - 2/10?

Here's how to subtract 2/10 from 5/11:

5

11

−

2

10

Step 1

We can't subtract two fractions with different denominators. So you need to get a common denominator. To do this, you'll multiply the denominators times each other... but the numerators have to change, too. They get multiplied by the other term's denominator.

So we multiply 5 by 10, and get 50.

Then we multiply 2 by 11, and get 22.

Next we give both terms new denominators -- 11 × 10 = 110.

So now our fractions look like this:

50

110

−

22

110

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can subtract the numerators.

50 − 22 = 28

So the answer is:

28

110

Step 3

Last of all, we need to simplify the fraction, if possible. Can it be reduced to a simpler fraction?

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it: